S8: Ghost of the Ozarks: Murder and Memory in the Upland South

My special guest is author Brooks Blevins, who's here to discuss his book Ghost of the Ozarks: Murder and Memory in the Upland South. Get it on Amazon.In 1929, in a remote county of the Arkansas Ozarks, the gruesome murder of harmonica-playing drifter Connie Franklin and the brutal rape of his teenage fiancée captured the attention of a nation on the cusp of the Great Depression. National press from coast to coast ran stories of the sensational exploits of night-riding moonshiners, powerful "Barons of the Hills," and a world of feudal oppression in the isolation of the rugged Ozarks. The arrest of five local men for both crimes and the confusion and superstition surrounding the trial and conviction gave Stone County a dubious and short-lived notoriety. Closely examining how the media interpreted the story and its regional setting, Brooks Blevins recounts the gripping events of the murder investigation and trial, where a man claiming to be the murder victim--the "Ghost" of the Ozarks--appeared to testify. Local conditions in Stone County, which had no electricity and only one long-distance telephone line, frustrated the dozen or more reporters who found their way to the rural Ozarks.

Our other podcasts:Follow UFO WitnessesFollow Crime Watch WeeklyFollow Paranormal FearsFollow Seven: Disturbing Chronicle Stories
Do you frequently miss episodes of Mysterious Radio? Don't worry; here are some tips to ensure you never miss out again:1. If you haven't already, follow or subscribe to the show to receive updates on new episodes. Even if you have already done this, it's a good idea to click the option again to ensure that you are still subscribed. This is especially important!2. Turn on notifications for new episodes in your podcast app.3. Make sure that your device allows notifications from your podcast app - we recommend using Apple for IOS devices.4. If your app has the option, swipe down to refresh the list of episodes.  Join our Patreon for ad-free listening and more bonus content. Follow us on Instagram @mysteriousradio Follow us on TikTok mysteriousradioTikTok Follow us on Twitter @mysteriousradio Follow us on Pinterest pinterest.com/mysteriousradio Like us on Facebook Facebook.com/mysteriousradio
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.